164 Mr. H. Durnford's Notes from the 
ChARADRIIDjE. 
Vanellus cayennensis is very abundant; and fresh eggs are 
to be obtained on September 10th; on the 27th I saw young 
on the wing, which must have been bred quite early in the 
season. The nest is exactly like that of the Peewit, but larger, 
though the eggs are not larger than those of that bird. It 
frequently cries at night just as our bird does. Eudromias 
modesta is very good eating; one was shot on Flores Island 
out of a flock on 30th March; I have often observed it out 
on the campo. 
THINOCORIDiE. 
Thinocorus rumicivorus I found common from May to Sep¬ 
tember, and always in flocks. It seems equally fond of wet 
swamps and the dry campos. When disturbed they fly round, 
uttering a low whistle, and invariably alight head to wind. 
They remind me of flocks of Calidris arenaria as they stand 
motionless on the ground. 
Scolopacidje. 
Himantopus brasiliensis is a very common species here, both 
in small flocks and singly; on May 27th I shot one changing 
to winter plumage, its head mottled with black and grey; 
on June 29th I found them common at Punta Lara, all in 
winter plumage. Gallinago frenata is the only true Snipe 
here, and is abundant in every marsh in the country; it is 
now (15th Oct.), I believe, breeding; but I have not yet found 
a nest, though a marsh near contains two or three pairs. 
Rhynchcea semicollaris in habits much resembles a Snipe, 
flying but a short distance, and lying close until nearly trodden 
upon; I have found two nests of this species, one on Sep¬ 
tember 20th, the other on October 5th; they were in a 
swamp about a mile from this; each was formed of a few 
pieces of reed in a slight depression in the ground; one was 
quite exposed in an open spot, the other under the shelter of 
a tuft of grass; each contained two eggs, from which the old 
birds of both were flushed. The eggs measure 1*5 by *9 inch, 
and are not very sharply pointed; they are of a dull dirty 
white ground, which is almost hidden by numerous spots and 
